The Trade
Parting with two future first-round draft picks would be difficult to justify considering the age and structure of the current roster. Anthony Davis is 31, LeBron James will turn 40 in December, and the Los Angeles Lakers have a solid, but not necessarily star-studded supporting cast.
Thankfully, Buckley has put together a trade proposal that would bring Grant to Los Angeles without losing too much long-term value in the process.
Rui Hachimura and Gabe Vincent would close the financial gap for a potential trade, although Maxwell Lewis or a minimum-contract player would likely need to be added. The 2029 first-round draft pick would have a protection in place, but the big win here is the 2030 second-rounder.
Rather than losing two first-round picks, the Lakers provide a valued talent in Hachimura in the hopes that Grant could act as a superior fit in his place.
It's certainly a gamble, as Hachimura is 26 and has played at a high level on both ends of the floor at times with the Lakers. If Grant is able to step in and act as an upgrade, however, it's fair to argue that the move could be justified.
The question is: When breaking down everything that goes into this potential deal, does the reward actually outweigh the risk?